Presence of Jesus Hernandez and Kanstantin Sivtsov in the break puts his rivals’ teams on the defensive
If it’s at all possible to have an easy day, in what was officially termed as a high mountain stage, while in the lead of a Grand Tour, Alberto Contador (Saxo bank-SunGard) had one between Feltre and Tirano today. The presence in the sixteen-man break of his teammate Jesus Hernandez and, more importantly, of Kanstantin Sivtsov (HTC-Highroad), forced the teams of Contador’s rivals to take the initiative to protect their own positions.
“The stage was very demanding and fast,” said Contador at the finish, “with the first hour ridden at an average of 48kph. The escape went but we kept the right distance to get some other teams to work.
“Then I just marked Nibali, [Denis] Menchov, and others,” he added.
Having Hernandez in the group meant that, according to the unwritten rules of peloton and breakaway, that the Saxo Bank-SunGard team had no obligation to chase. By allowing Sivtsov in there though, who started the day just 12’05” behind in the overall classification, the Danish team put pressure on the other two occupants of the podium places: Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale).
”It was part of our plan that Hernandez were to participate in today's break so it was simply perfect that he was able to glide along,” said Saxo Bank-SunGard's sports director, Philippe Mauduit. “The final climb before the descent to the finish line was just too easy in order to take advantage of his great climbing skills but tactically it was a perfect scenario having him in the break so Liquigas was forced to move to the front.”
With eventual stage winner Diego Ulissi in the break, Lampre-ISD was also in the position of not having to chase and, with the lead up to 7’45” and Sivtsov pushing Nibali down to third, it was Liquigas-Cannondale who blinked first. The green, white and blue squad sent its men forward and worked to bring the deficit down to a more manageable level.
“Tomorrow's stage is very similar to today's course,” added Mauduit, “and we still have to keep cool, keep focused, concentrated and to control the two nearest rivals in the [overall classification].”
While stage eighteen is, on paper, a shorter version of stage seventeen, there are two more summit finishes in the high mountains for Contador to defend his lead; or possibly even extend it.
“Of course I'm happy another day has passed,” he said, “Milan is closer, and the fans are wonderful. If I'm careful it should go all right. The day of the Colle delle Finsetre [the srage to Sestriere - ed] will be the last opportunity for Scarponi and Nibali: I respect them as opponents but I can also count on the help of others.
“Let's say I'm ‘tranquillo’,” he concluded.
As for Sivtsov: he finished in tenth on the stage, just ten seconds behind Ulissi. With the inclusion of an extra four seconds for being second across the line in the Traguardo Volante sprint, he gained 2’53” on those at the top of the standings. He has elevated himself to fifth place overall and, now that he’s just 9’12” behind Contador, it’s doubtful he’ll be allowed in another breakaway before the end of the race.